Touch-Screen Panel with Multiple Sense Units and Related Methods

ABSTRACT

This document discloses, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture, related to position sensors and uses of such sensors. Multiple panels can be arranged in close proximity to one another and one or more sense or drives lines associated with each respective panel can be associated with a control circuit of the other adjacent panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to detecting the position of a touchwith a position sensor.

BACKGROUND

A position sensor is a device that can detect the presence and locationof a touch by a user's finger or by an object, such as a stylus, forexample, within a display area of the position sensor display screen. Ina touch sensitive display application, the position sensor enables auser to interact directly with what is displayed on the screen, ratherthan indirectly with a mouse or touchpad. Position sensors can beattached to or provided as part of computers, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), satellite navigation devices, mobile telephones,portable media players, portable game consoles, public informationkiosks, and point of sale systems, and the like. Position sensors havealso been used as control panels on various appliances.

There are a number of different types of position sensors/touch screens,such as resistive touch screens, surface acoustic wave touch screens,capacitive touch screens, and the like. A capacitive touch screen, forexample, includes an insulator, coated with a transparent conductor.When an object, such as a user's finger or a stylus, touches or isprovided in close proximity to the surface of the screen there is achange in capacitance. This change in capacitance is sent to acontroller for processing to determine the position of the touch.

An array of drive (in one example X) electrodes and sense (in thisexample Y) electrodes of conductive material can be used to form a touchscreen having a plurality of nodes, a node being formed at eachintersection of X and Y electrodes. Applying a voltage to the array ofelectrodes creates a grid of capacitors. When an object touches or isprovided in close proximity to the surface of the screen, thecapacitance change at every individual point on the grid can be measuredto determine the location of the touch.

SUMMARY

This detailed description and drawings disclose examples of systems,methods, and articles of manufacture, related to touch position sensorsand uses of such sensors. The disclosed technologies, for example, mayimprove in the accuracy with which position of a touch is detected incertain regions of the position sensor. Multiple panels can be arrangedadjacent to one another and one or more sense or drives lines associatedwith each respective panel can be associated with a control circuit ofthe other adjacent panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accordancewith the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way oflimitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same orsimilar elements.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of an apparatus fordetecting a touch;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of time that may be required to charge anddischarge the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents an example of changes in an electric field when afinger is present;

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of time that may be required to chargeand discharge the apparatus of FIG. 1, when there is no touch;

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of time that may be required to chargeand discharge the apparatus of FIG. 1, when there is a touch;

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically an example of a basic measurementcircuit;

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically an example of a two-dimensionalarrangement for sensing position of a touch;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically an example of connection of touch senselines and drive lines to a control integrated circuit (IC);

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically in more detail an example of connectionof sensing and driving lines to a control IC;

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically an example of a touch-sensitive panelincluding two panel regions, which are connected to two control ICs;

FIG. 10 illustrates schematically an example of deviation that may occurbetween sensed and actual touch positions in the panel of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates an example of a touch-sensitive panelincluding two panel regions connected to two control ICs, where thepanel includes an overlap region in which sensing channels are connectedto both control ICs;

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically an example of deviation that may occurbetween sensed and actual touch positions in the panel of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary process of sensing and reporting atouch;

FIG. 14 illustrates schematically another exemplary panel includingthree regions connected to three control ICs, with two overlap regionsin which sensing channels are connected to two of the control ICs;

FIG. 15 illustrates schematically an exemplary panel including regionsconnected to two control ICs and having an overlap region in which drivechannels are connected to both control ICs;

FIG. 16 illustrates schematically an exemplary panel including overlapregions in which drive channels are connected to two control ICs andoverlap regions in which sensing channels are connected to two controlICs;

FIG. 17 illustrates schematically an exemplary panel including overlapregions in which sensing channels in overlap regions are connected totwo control ICs and drive channels sets do not form an overlap region;

FIG. 18 illustrates schematically a layer arrangement of an exemplarypanel;

FIG. 19 illustrates schematically a layer arrangement for anotherexemplary panel; and

FIG. 20 illustrates schematically a layer arrangement for anotherexemplary panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to illustrate the relevant teachings.In order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the presentteachings, those methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry thatare well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art have been describedat a relatively high-level.

Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated in theaccompanying figures and discussed below. FIG. 1 schematicallyillustrates an example of an apparatus for detecting a touch anddetermining the location of the touch. The apparatus includes a controlunit 10 provided with three switches 12, 16, and 18. Control unit 10 maybe a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a programmable logicdevice/array, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or acombination thereof. Switch 12 is provided between VDD and ground and isalso connected to a sensor 13. The self coupling capacitance of thesensor 13 is C_(X). The sensor 13 has two electrodes, an X (drive)electrode and a Y (sense) electrode. The apparatus measures thetransverse coupling capacitance between the X and Y electrodes.

The sensor 13 is connected in series to a sampling capacitor 15 having asampling capacitance C_(S). The sampling capacitor 15 may have asampling capacitance CS which is considerably larger than the sensorcapacitance C_(X). In one example, the sampling capacitance C_(S) is atleast 1000 times larger than the sensor capacitance C_(X), where thesensor capacitance C_(X) may be around 1 pF to 10 pF. The samplingcapacitor 15 is also connected in series to the switches 16 and 18, bothof which are connected to ground.

Capacitance C is a measure of the amount of electric charge stored for agiven electric potential.

$C = \frac{Q}{V}$

Where V is the voltage between the plates and Q is charge.

After opening switch 16, a voltage pulse is applied to the apparatus, byadjusting switch 12 to connect the sensor 13 to VDD, followed by closingswitch 18 which causes charge to flow through C_(X) into C_(S),accumulating charge at C_(X) and C_(S). The sensor capacitance C_(X) isthen discharged, by, opening switch 18 closing switch 16 and adjustingswitch 12 to connect to ground. Since only the sensor capacitance C_(X)is discharged after each voltage pulse, the capacitance C_(S) held atthe sampling capacitor 15 is increased with each voltage pulse. Thisstep wise increase is illustrated in FIG. 2, where V_(CS) is the voltageaccumulated at the sampling capacitor 15.

A predetermined number of voltage pulses is applied to the apparatus.After the predetermined number of pulses is applied to the apparatus,the capacitance C_(S) accumulated in the sampling capacitor 15 isdischarged. The time taken for the capacitance to discharge to areference voltage is measured.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when a user's finger 19, which has a touchcapacitance to Earth C_(t), is moved close to (or contacts) the sensor13, the finger 19 diverts charge away from the drive electrode of C_(X)to earth so that the capacitance C_(S) accumulated in the samplingcapacitor 15 with each voltage pulse is reduced. In one example, thesensor 13 is provided behind a dielectric panel so the finger 19 doesnot directly contact the sensor 13. In another example, or in additionto a dielectric panel, the finger 19 may be provided in close proximityto the sensor 13, but not directly contacting the sensor 13.

FIG. 4A illustrates the voltage V_(CS) accumulated at the samplingcapacitor 15 after the predetermined number of pulses when there is notouch, and the time required to discharge the sampling capacitor 15.FIG. 4B illustrates the voltage V_(CS) accumulated at the samplingcapacitor 15 after the predetermined number of pulses when a user'sfinger 19 is close to the sensor 13 (i.e. when there is a touch), andthe time required to discharge the sampling capacitor 15. Since thesampling capacitor 15 is connected to the negative side of the sensor13, in the example, the accumulated voltage V_(CS) has a negative value.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4A and 4B, the voltage V_(CS) accumulated inFIG. 4B is reduced when compared to the voltage V_(CS) accumulated inFIG. 4A. In addition, the time required to discharge the samplingcapacitor 15 in FIG. 4B is reduced when compared to the time required todischarge the sampling capacitor 15 in FIG. 4A. The reduction in timerequired to discharge the sampling capacitor 15 in FIG. 4B indicatesthat there is a touch. The difference between the time required todischarge the sampling capacitor 15 when there is no touch (illustratedin FIG. 4A) and the time required to discharge the sampling capacitorwhen there is a touch (illustrated in FIG. 4B) is referred to as adelta.

The detection of a delta indicates a touch, because the delta indicatesthat there has been a change of charge accumulated at the samplingcapacitor 15, when compared to the amount of charge expected to beaccumulated at the sampling capacitor 15 when there is no touch.

FIG. 5 illustrates a basic circuit for measuring the magnitude of Vcs.The control unit 10 of FIG. 1 includes a resistor 49, switch 40, acomparator 41, a register 45, a counter 43 and a clock signal 47. Theresistor 49, comparator 41 and counter 43 are used to measure themagnitude of Yes. The time required to discharge the sampling capacitorto a reference voltage is measured with the counter and the comparator,such that the counter value is the measurement.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in order to create a position sensor havingmore than one touch sensor 13, a plurality of drive and sense electrodescan be provided to create an array of sensing elements 220 (touchsensors 13) within a panel 210 of the position sensor. The driveelectrodes (X) form one plate of each sensor 13 and the sense (Y)electrodes form the other plate of each sensor 13 having a capacitanceC_(X). The position sensor also includes a plurality of resistors 230,which may have different values, and a control unit 10. FIG. 6,illustrates one exemplary matrix of eight sensing elements 220, howevermany other configurations are possible.

The matrix of drive and sense electrodes forms a two-dimensionalposition sensor capable of sensing the position of a touch. The controlunit 10 uses a scanning sequence through the rows of drive electrodesand the columns of sense electrodes to measure coupling capacitance atthe intersections or nodes. Examples of position sensors include touchscreens and touch pads, which can be provided attached to or as part ofcomputers, personal digital assistants (PDA), satellite navigationdevices, mobile phones, portable media players, portable game consoles,public information kiosks, and point of sale systems, and the like.Position sensors can also be used as control panels on variousappliances.

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the drive channels Xn, Xn+1, Xn+2, . .. Xn+m connected to a drive unit 120 of a control integrated circuit(IC) 10 and sense channels Yn, Yn+1, Yn+2, . . . Yn+m connected to asense unit 140. Drive unit 120 supplies drive signals to the driveelectrodes and sense unit 140 receives signals from the senseelectrodes. Additionally, control IC 10 of this example controlsprocessing of signals from the sense unit 140 in the processing unit 160to determine the position of a touch based on the signals received fromthe sense electrodes, although it will be appreciated that processingunit 160 is not necessarily provided on control IC 10, and may beprovided by other control means such as a separate processing IC.Running drive channels and sense channels close to one another cancreate a FALSE sensing condition, however this can be avoided by runninga ground line between the two channels.

The connections of FIG. 7 are illustrated in more detail in FIG. 8 whichillustrates schematically an exemplary panel 210 including a pluralityof drive electrodes connected to drive channels 280 and a plurality ofsense electrodes connected to sense channels 240. The drive channels 280and the sense channels 240 are connected to a control IC 10 via aconnector 270. The connector 270 may be, for example, a conductive traceor a feed-through.

In this example, control IC chip 10 is large enough to accommodate eachof the drive and sense channels 240, 280 associated with the panel. Inorder to do this, the number of drive and sense channels, and thereforethe number of sensing elements, may be kept constant but spacedincreasingly further apart as the panel size increases. However, thisresults in a reduction in sensitivity and accuracy of touch detection.Alternatively, the size of the chip may be increased to increase thenumber of drive and/or sense channels that the chip can accommodate.However, this means that the size of control IC chip 10 is dictated bythe panel size, which may increase cost in manufacturing chips ofdifferent and/or unusual parameters.

In order to form a larger panel, two or more panels may be placed sideby side, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 9 in which panels 210a and 210 b, with associated control ICs 10 a and 10 b, are placed sideby side. ICs 10 a and 10 b each have an associated sensing channel set,which in this example includes sensing channels Y0-Y4, although it willbe appreciated that each channel set may independently have more orfewer channels (sensing channels Y0-Y4 of each panel are shown, howeverdriving lines are not shown for simplicity of illustration). However,touch detection at the edges of side-by-side panels may be less accuratethan touch detection towards the center of the panel because a touch atthe edge of the panel is sensed by fewer sensing channels than a touchin the center of a panel. By way of example in FIG. 9, touch (B), in thecenter of panel region 210 b, is sensed by two sensing channels (Y2 andY3 associated with IC 10 b) whereas touch (A) at the overlap of panels210 a and 210 b is sensed by only one sensing line (Y4 of the channelset associated with IC 10 a).

The loss of accuracy at the dividing line between panels 210 a and 210b, can be seen in FIG. 10. In that example, line 510 represents thepositions of an actual touch, for example, if the user moves her fingerto run along panels 210 a and 210 b. The lines 520 a and 520 brespectively represent the position that may be sensed by IC 10 a and IC10 b and show the deviation of the position detections from the actualpositions where the touch at points along the line 510 are near the edgeof the channel sets.

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically a panel 210 including panel regions210 a and 210 b, and control ICs 10 a and 10 b associated with panelregions 10 a and 10 b. In this example, three sensing channels (Y4, Y5and Y0) in an overlap region 212 are included in the sensing channelsets of both control ICs 10 a and 10 b. That is, the control IC 10 acommunicates with sensing channels Y0, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 (of panelregion 210 a), and communicates with a second Y0 (of panel region 210b). Similarly, control IC 10 b communications sensing channels Y4 (ofpanel region 210 a), Y5, Y0, Y1, Y2, Y3 (of panel region 210 b), and asecond Y4 (of panel region 210 b). Each control IC 10 a, 10 b isconnected to each sense channel of the respective control ICs panel(e.g., 210 a) and one or more channels of the other control ICs panel(e.g., 210 b), so that some number of the sense channels (in thisexample three) connect to both control ICs 10 a, 10 b. Morespecifically, the control IC 10 a connects to sense channels Y0-Y5 ofthe associated panel region 210 a. Similarly, the control IC 10 bconnects to sense channels Y0-Y5 of the associated panel region 210 b.In addition, the sense unit in IC 10 a connects to sense channel(s) Y0of the second panel region 210 b, and the sense unit in IC 10 b connectsto sense channels Y4 of the first panel region 210 a. Thus, sensechannels Y4, Y5, and Y0 in region 212 are common to both control ICs 10a, 10 b.

The width of the overlap area may be selected based on the size of thetarget to be detected (e.g., a human finger or a stylus). For example,the width of the overlap area may be up to 3 cm, up to 1 cm or up to 0.5cm. Other widths can also be used depending on the application. Thepanel 210 may be formed of two separate substrates placed side-by-sideor may be formed of a single substrate that is divided into multiplepanel regions.

The example of FIG. 11 illustrates a panel and two ICs 10 a and 10 b(which may or may not be housed within the panel) with associatedsensing channel sets, however any number of ICs and channel sets may becombined to form a panel of any desired shape or size. As discussed morebelow, the example in FIG. 14 has three ICs (10 a, 10 b and 10 c) forconnection to three associated driving and sensing channel sets (notshown) and three panel regions. Further exemplary configurations areshown and described below with respect to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17. Furtherdetails of those configurations are provided below.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of touch position sensor. The sensorincludes a panel having a first panel region 210 a and a second panelregion 210 b. The first panel region 210 a includes a plurality of firstsense channels. The second lane region 210B is positioned adjacent tothe first panel region 210 b. The second panel region 210 b includes asecond plurality of sense channels. The sensor also includes a firstsense unit 10 a in communication with the plurality of first sensechannels and at least one sense channel of the second plurality of sensechannels. The sensor also includes a second sense unit 10 b incommunication with the second plurality of sense channels and at leastone sense channel of the first plurality of sense channels.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, line 710 illustrates the actualposition of a touch crossing the overlap region 212 of panel 210. In theevent of a touch in the overlap region 212, the sense units 140 of ICs10 a and 10 b will each detect a touch, however the two sensing channelsets may each detect a different touch position due to theaforementioned deviation for touch positions at or near the outermostsensing channels of the channel set associated with each IC 10. Thus, atouch (i) near the edge of panel region 210 a, may be sensed by IC 10 aat position (i)a, which is some distance from the actual touch position,especially if the touch is only sensed by the outermost sensing channelassociated with IC 10 a, whereas IC 10 b may sense the same touch moreaccurately at position (i)b because the touch is further away from theoutermost sensing channel associated with IC 10 b. The converse is truefor touches near the edge of panel region 210 b, illustrated as a touch(ii) sensed by the two channel sets at positions (ii)a and (ii)b.Touches at the center of the overlap region (illustrated as touch (iii))will be sensed in the same position by both IC 10 a and 10 b. In thisway, non-linearities in the position of a sensed touch near the panelregion boundaries and/or as the touching object is moving from onechannel set to an adjacent channel set may be reduced or eliminated whencompared to situations without overlapping sense channels between thepanel regions 210 a and 210 b.

Referring back to FIG. 11, a multiplexer 610, which includes the abilityto processor signals, may be used to determine which one of the reportedtouches to select as accurate and which one(s) to discard as inaccuratewhen the sensing channel sets of both IC 10 a and 10 b detect a touch indifferent positions in the overlap region. If one or both of the ICs 10a and 10 b do not include a processing unit 160 then the multiplexer 610may also perform processing of signals received from the sensingchannels to determine a touch position. Multiplexer 610 may be, forexample, an integrated circuit chip such as an ASIC. Alternatively,multiplexer 610 may be a processor running software containing code tooperate this process.

In one arrangement, the sensing channel sets are scanned sequentially inwhich case each sensing channel in the overlap region is scanned onlyonce in each scanning cycle. For example, multiplexer 610, sense unit140 or a separate control element may be configured so that thissequential scanning is synchronized across the two. In anotherarrangement, one of ICs 10 a and 10 b scans each of the respective IC'sassociated sensing channel sets and the other of ICs 10 a and 10 b thenscans each of that IC's associated sensing channels (in other words,sensing channels in the overlap region are each scanned twice within thesame scanning cycle).

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary process of determining the position ofa touch in the event of a touch in the overlap region, for example, in asystem like that of FIG. 11. The process begins by scanning (step 801)across the Y sense lines. When a touch is detected, processing branchesat step 803 based on whether the touch is detected by only IC. If onlyone IC 10 senses the touch (step 802) then the process branches to step806 where there is a report of the detection and position based onsensing and processing through the one IC 10, and then the process endsuntil the next cycle. However, if multiple ICs sense a touch, then theprocess branches from 803 to determine whether the touch is sensed indifferent positions (step 803). If the touch is sensed in the sameposition by the multiple ICs 10, the process branches to step 806 wherethere is a report of the detection and position, and the process endsuntil the next cycle.

However, if both ICs associated with an overlap region report a touch,and the sensed touches are in different positions then the processcontinues from step 803 to step 804. When the touch is sensed indifferent positions, the Y sense lines sensing the touch are determinedby the multiple ICs (step 804). The touch location is reported (step805) based on the touch as sensed by the Y line or Y lines that arefurthest from the edges of the channel set containing the sensing Y lineor lines. Other methods can be used to determine the location of thetouch.

The above examples illustrate arrangements in which a plurality ofsensing channels are common to more than one IC. It will be appreciatedthat analogous examples may be provided in which a plurality of drivechannels are common to more than one IC. This is illustrated by way ofanother example in FIG. 15, which shows schematically a panel 211include two panel regions 211 a and 211 b, and two control ICs 11 a and11 b associated with a respective drive channel set in panel regions 11a and 11 b. In this example, three drive channels (X4, X5 and X0) in anoverlap region 213 are included in the drive channel sets of bothcontrol ICs 11 a and 11 b. That is, the drive channel set associate withcontrol IC 11 a includes drive channels X0 (of panel region 211 a), X1,X2, X3, X4, X5 (of panel region 211 b), and a second X0 (of panel region211 b). The drive channel set associated with the second control IC 11Bincludes X4 (of panel region 211 a), X5, X0 X1, X2, X3, and a second X4(of panel region 211 b). Each control IC 11 a, 11 b is connected to eachdrive channel of the respective control ICs panel (e.g., 211 a) and oneor more drive channels of the other control ICs panel (e.g., 211 b), sothat some number of the drives channels (in this example three) connectto both control ICs 11 a, 11 b. More specifically, the control IC 11 aconnects to drive channels X0-X5 of the associated panel region 211 a.Similarly, the control IC 11 b connects to drive channels X0-X5 of theassociated panel region 211 b. In addition, the drive unit in IC 11 aconnects to drive channel(s) X0 of the second panel region 211 b, andthe drive unit in IC 11 b connects to drive channels Y4 of the firstpanel region 211 a. Thus, drive channels Y4, Y5, and Y0 in region 213are common to both control ICs 11 a, 11 b.

FIG. 16 illustrates a further example in which multiple ICs are used toextend a panel area both lengthwise and widthwise. Here, the panel 10has panel regions 210 e, 210 f, 210 g and 210 h (each panel region couldalso be a separate panel) and control ICs 10 e, 10 f, 10 g and 10 h.Control ICs 10 e and 10 f are connected to common sensing channels (notshown) in overlap region 222; control ICs 10 e and 10 g are connected tocommon drive channels (not shown) in overlap region 223; control ICs 10g and 10 h are connected to common sensing channels in overlap region224; and control ICs 10 f and 10 h are connected to common drivechannels in overlap region 225. In this case, overlap regions may beprovided for both driving channels and sensing channels associated withmultiple driving channels sets and multiple sensing channel setsrespectively.

In yet another example, a panel is extended both lengthwise andwidthwise by providing a plurality of sensing channels that are commonto more than one control IC, but wherein drive channels are associatedwith only one control IC. This is illustrated schematically in FIG. 17,the panel 10 includes panel regions 210 i, 210 j, 210 k and 210 l andcontrol ICs 10 i, 10 j, 10 k and 10 l. Control ICs 10 i and 10 j areconnected to common sensing channels (not shown) in overlap region 232,as are control ICs 10 k and 10 l with respect to common sensing channelsin overlap region 234. In this example, there are no driving channelscommon to more than one IC.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary stack arrangement which can be used tomanufacture a panel for a position sensor. The stack includes a lowersubstrate 20; a drive electrode 22; an adhesive layer 24; a senseelectrode 28; an upper substrate 26; an adhesive layer 30 and a frontpanel 32. In one example, the drive electrode 22 is the X electrode andthe sense electrode 28 is the Y electrode. In one example, the lowersubstrate 20 and the upper substrate 26 are polyethylene terephthalate(PET), and the drive and sense electrodes 22, 28 are indium tin oxide(ITO). In another example, the substrate 20 is glass. In one example,the adhesive 24, 30 is an optically clear adhesive. In one example, theupper substrate 26 is PET, and the drive and sense electrodes 22, 28 areITO. In another example, the substrate 20 is glass. The adhesive oflayer 24 is an optically clear adhesive. In one example, the driveelectrode 22 is fabricated on the lower substrate 20 and the senseelectrode 28 is fabricated on the upper substrate 26.

Drive and sense electrodes may be provided on different layers, asillustrated in FIG. 18, or the drive and sense electrodes may beprovided on the same layer, as illustrated in FIG. 19. Crossovers 36 areused at the point of intersection with a dielectric insulator to preventshorting. The stack includes an substrate 20; a drive electrode 22; asense electrode 28; a crossover 36; an adhesive layer 24 and a frontpanel 32. In one example, the drive electrode 22 is the X electrode andthe sense electrode 28 is the Y electrode.

FIG. 20 illustrates another stack arrangement which can be used tomanufacture a panel for a position sensor where the drive and senseelectrodes 22, 28 are provided on either side of the upper substrate 26.

The position sensors described above can be attached to numerouselectronic devices, such as computers, personal digital assistants(PDA), satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, portable mediaplayers, portable game consoles, public information kiosks, point ofsale systems and the like. Each of these electronic devices may includea central processor or other processing device for executing programinstructions, an internal communication bus, various types of memory orstorage media (RAM, ROM, EEPROM, cache memory, disk drives, and thelike.) for code and data storage, and one or more network interfacecards or ports for communication purposes. A touch reported by aposition sensor attached to such an electronic device may be processedaccordingly by the electronic device, for example to change a displaydepending on the sensed position of the touch.

Various modifications may be made to the examples and embodimentsdescribed in the foregoing, and any related teachings may be applied innumerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. Itis intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications,modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of thepresent teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A panel for a touch position sensor, comprising:a first panel region including a plurality of first touch sense channelsfor communication with a first sense unit; and a second panel regionadjacent to the first panel region, the second panel region including asecond plurality of touch sense channels for communication with a secondsense unit; wherein: at least one touch sense channel associated withthe first panel region and at least one touch sense channel associatedwith the second panel region is configured for communication with eachof the first sense unit and the second sense unit.
 2. The panelaccording to claim 1, wherein the width of the overlap region is basedon the a size of an object to sense.
 3. The panel according to claim 2,wherein the width is substantially 3 cm.
 4. The panel according to claim2, wherein the width is substantially 1 cm.
 5. The panel according toclaim 2, wherein the width is substantially 0.5 cm.
 6. A touch positionsensor, comprising: a panel comprising: a first panel region including aplurality of first touch sense channels; and a second panel regionsubstantially adjacent to the first panel region, the second panelregion including a second plurality of touch sense channels; a firstsense unit in communication with the plurality of first touch sensechannels and at least one touch sense channel of the second plurality oftouch sense channels; and a second sense unit in communication with thesecond plurality of touch sense channels and at least one touch sensechannel of the first plurality of touch sense channels.
 7. The touchposition sensor of claim 6, wherein the at least one touch sense channelof the second plurality of touch sense channels in communication withfirst sense unit and the at least one touch sense channel of the firstplurality of touch sense channels in communication with the second senseunit are located near the first panel region and the second panelregion.
 8. The touch position sensor of claim 6, further comprising afirst processing unit in communication with first sense unit and asecond processing unit in communication with the second sense unit, thefirst processing unit and second processing unit cooperating todetermine whether a touch occurred in a region where the second panelregion is substantially adjacent to the first panel region.
 9. The touchposition sensor of claim 8, wherein one of the first processing unit andthe second processing unit reports the position of the touch.
 10. Thetouch position sensor of claim 6, further comprising a multiplexer incommunication with the first sense unit and the second sense unit, themultiplexer determining the position of a touch.
 11. A panel for a touchposition sensor, comprising: a first panel region including a pluralityof first drive channels in communication with a first drive unit; asecond panel region having an edge substantially adjacent to an edge ofthe first panel region, the second panel region including a secondplurality of drive channels in communication with a second drive unit;wherein at least one drive channel associated with the first panelregion and at least one drive channel associated with the second panelregion is configured for communication with the first drive unit and thesecond drive unit.
 12. The panel according to claim 11 wherein the widthof the overlap region is substantially 3 cm.
 13. The panel according toclaim 11 wherein the width of the overlap region is substantially 1 cm.14. The panel according to claim 11 wherein the width of the overlapregion is substantially 0.5 cm.
 15. A touch position sensor comprising:a panel comprising: a first panel region including a plurality of firstdrive channels; and a second panel region adjacent to the first panelregion, the second panel region including a second plurality of drivechannels; a first control unit in communication with the plurality offirst drive channels and at least one drive channel of the secondplurality of drive channels; and a second control unit in communicationwith the second plurality of drive channels and at least one drivechannel of the first plurality of drive channels.
 16. The positionsensor according to claim 15 further comprising a multiplexer incommunication with the first control unit and the second control unit.17. A method for sensing a touch with a position sensor, comprising:scanning touch sense lines, the touch sense lines including: (a) aplurality of touch sense lines associated with a first sense unit; (b) aplurality of touch sense lines associated with a second sense unit; and(c) at least two sense lines included in both pluralities that are eachassociated with both sense units, the sense lines associated with bothsense units defining a channel set; determining whether a touch has beensensed in different positions; when a touch is sensed in differentpositions, determining the sense lines that sensed the touch; andreporting the touch location based on the sensing from the sense linesthat are located furthest from the edges of the channel set defined bythe sense lines associated with both sense units.